Family Green Card Attorney in Chicago
The I-130 family petition is the vehicle through which U.S. citizens and permanent residents sponsor close family members for green cards. At Liberum Law, our family green card attorneys in Chicago prepare and file I-130 petitions for parents, children, and siblings, navigating the preference categories and processing timelines that apply to each relationship.
U.S. citizens can petition for spouses, unmarried children under 21 (immediate relatives with no wait), unmarried children 21 and older, married children of any age, parents (if the petitioner is 21 or older), and siblings. Permanent residents can petition for spouses, unmarried children under 21, and unmarried children 21 and older.
Processing times vary significantly depending on the relationship and the beneficiary’s country of birth. Our attorneys monitor visa bulletin movements and advise on strategies to minimize waiting times, including porting between preference categories when possible.
Contact our family green card attorneys at Liberum Law for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What family relationships qualify for a green card?
Immediate relatives (no wait): spouses, parents, and unmarried minor children of U.S. citizens. Preference categories (waits apply): F1 unmarried adult children of citizens, F2A spouses/minor children of LPRs, F2B unmarried adult children of LPRs, F3 married children of citizens, F4 siblings of citizens.
What is the Visa Bulletin and how do I read it?
The Visa Bulletin is the State Department's monthly publication showing visa number availability by category and country of birth. Your priority date (date your I-130 was filed) must be earlier than the cutoff date for your category/country to file the final step. Tracking the Bulletin is critical for planning.
Can a green card holder petition for a family member?
Yes — LPRs can petition for spouses and unmarried children (F2A) and unmarried adult children (F2B). They cannot petition for parents, married children, or siblings — only U.S. citizens can.
What happens if my child turns 21 during the process?
May trigger "aging out" — moving from immediate relative or F2A to a slower category. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) may freeze the age in some cases, preserving the original category. CSPA calculations are complex; we routinely run them for family clients.
How long does a family green card take?
Immediate relatives: 12–18 months. F2A spouses/children of LPRs: 18–30 months (currently). F1, F2B, F3, F4: 2–25 years depending on country (Mexico, Philippines, India for F2B/F3/F4 have decades-long waits).
